SHAH ALAM, 3 Nov 2009: A former aide to the Selangor Menteri Besar, Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to cheating and using forged documents.

Mohd Yahya is charged with cheating the president of Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar, by deceiving him into believing that the Pakatan Rakyat secretariat was looking for sponsors to finance the party’s 100th day celebration. Mohd Yahya is also charged with inducing Abdul Karim to hand him RM50,000 in sponsorship for the event.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Gardenia Coffee House, Quality Hotel, on 4 June 2008.

If convicted, Mohd Yahya faces a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and he could also be fined.

Mohd Yahya is also charged with using a forged document, relating to the opening of a bank account for the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat at Bandar Sunway Maybank branch, Petaling, on 14 May 2008.

If found guilty, he could be jailed a maximum of two years or fined or both.

Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Mohd Josiendra Abu Senin, requested bail at RM15,000 in one surety.

However, Mohd Yahya’s counsel, Yusmandi Yusoff, said his client had a wife and four children, aged between three and 16 years, to support.

Judge Syafeera Mohd Said set bail at RM10,000 in one surety and fixed 19 to 23 April 2010 for trial. — Bernama